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Abstract:

A method and a device for recycling compressed gas where the compressed
gas used in a compressed gas consumer, particularly a container
blow-molding machine, is fed back into a compressed gas generator. In
order to increase the recycling volume, the compressed gas from the
compressed gas consumer is collected separately and fed back to at least
a first and a second pressure range of the pressure generator separately
according to pressure stages.

Claims:

1. A method for recycling compressed gas wherein the compressed gas used
in a compressed gas consumer is fed back into a compressed gas generator,
comprising separately collecting the compressed gas from the compressed
gas consumer according to pressure stages and, separated by pressure
stages, feeding the separately collected compressed gas to at least a
first and second pressure range of the pressure generator.

2. The method according to claim 1, and collecting the returned
compressed gas before the feed into the pressure generator.

3. The method according to claim 1, and feeding in the compressed gas
with the lowest pressure before the first pressurization stage of the
pressure generator.

4. The method according to claim 1, and feeding in the compressed gas
with the higher pressure between different pressurization stages of the
pressure generator.

5. A device for recycling compressed gas from a compressed gas consumer
wherein the compressed gas consumer is connected to an input of a
compressed gas generator via a return line, comprising at least two
return lines are provided for returning compressed gas at different
pressures to different pressure stages of the pressure generator.

6. The device according to claim 5, and wherein a collection tank for the
returned compressed gas is provided in at least one of the two return
lines.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein a first of the at least two
return lines discharges into the pressure generator before the first
pressurization stage.

8. The device according to claim 7, and wherein a further return line
discharges into the pressure generator between pressurization stages.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas consumer is a
container blow-molding machine.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority of German
Application No. 102011005189.9, filed Mar. 7, 2011. The entire text of
the priority application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The disclosure relates to a method and a device for recycling
compressed gas.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Such a method and such a device are known from DE 10 2005 042 926.
In the known method, used compressed air from a hollow body manufacturing
machine, for example, a stretch blow-molding machine, is fed back for
reuse. Stretch blow-molding machines require a relatively high proportion
of compressed air in order to blow up prefabricated and heated bottle
preforms into finished containers. The air used for the blowing procedure
has a pressure that is reduced after the blowing procedure, but this
pressure is still relatively high. In order to prevent this pressure from
being wasted, the compressed air is fed back into the pressure generator
(compressor) after the containers have been blown. It is detrimental
thereby that the return feed must take place at a certain minimum
pressure in order to allow a feed in. It is consequently not possible to
recycle all the compressed air that arises.

[0004] Because different processes are run in the blowing process of the
stretch blow-molding machine, compressed air at different pressures
arises, and of this air, only that portion that lies above the minimum
pressure can be reused by the known method.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] One aspect of the disclosure is providing a method and a device for
recycling compressed gas that are able to recycle a substantially higher
proportion of compressed air at different pressures.

[0006] Compressed gases at a low pressure can also be recycled by the
development according to the disclosure, so that altogether, a
substantially higher recycling rate can be achieved.

[0007] The compressed air that is fed back is advantageously first
collected before being fed into the pressure generator in order to keep
the compressed feed-in essentially constant.

[0008] The feed of the compressed gas can take place at the widest range
of points in the course of the pressurization process in the pressure
generator, whereby a suitable point can be found for each pressure level
that is fed back in. For example, the compressed gas with the lowest
pressure is fed in before the first pressurization stage and a compressed
gas with a higher pressure is fed in between the first and the second
pressurization stages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail in the
following on the basis of the drawings. Shown are:

[0010] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a device according to the disclosure,
and

[0011]FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a device according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] In the following, the disclosure is explained on the basis of a
known stretch blow-molding method for manufacturing hollow bodies from
plastic. These methods are carried out in a stretch blow-molding machine
1 that is depicted in the figures only schematically and by way of
example, and they require compressed air, usually at different pressure
levels; these are provided by one or more pressure generators 2.

[0013] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the pressure generator 2
contains a booster 3 that can be a reciprocating compressor or a
turbocompressor. The booster 3 is supplied with pre-pressurized
compressed gas, referred to in the following as compressed air, from a
low pressure compressor 5 via a low pressure network. In the booster 3,
the compressed air is then brought to the required pressure and conveyed
to the stretch blow-molding machine 1 via a buffer tank 6 in the blow air
line 7, whereby the compressed air is used in the stretch blow-molding
machine 1 in the corresponding working processes.

[0014] Unlike in the state of the art where the compressed air volumes are
altogether collected and fed back at the resulting mixed pressure, in
this case after the end of the process, the individual compressed air
volumes are fed back into the pressure generator 2 separately in various
pressure stages according to the residual pressure via a plurality of
return lines, i.e., at least a first return line 8 and a second return
line 9. In the depicted embodiment, the compressed gas with the lower
pressure stage, i.e., preferably 4 to 7 bar, is fed back through the
return line 8 and compressed gas with the higher pressure level, i.e.,
for example 10 to 13 bar, is fed back through the second return line 9.

[0015] The first return line 8 thereby discharges into a buffer tank 10,
into which the low pressure network 4 from the low pressure compressor 5
also discharges, which supplements the compressed gas volume lost at the
compressed gas consumer 1. Recycled and "new" compressed gas, mixed, do
not reach the booster 3 at any point before from this buffer tank 10,
namely before its first pressurization stage.

[0016] The second return line 9 discharges into the booster 3 via a
separate buffer tank 11, namely at a point in the pressurization process
that is suitable for the pressure of the compressed gas that is fed back.
Using the compressed air lines 9a and 9b, the buffer tank 11 is
integrated into the compressor system 3 and serves hereby as a compressed
air buffer for the internal compressed air control/regulation. The boiler
serves as a buffer between the pressurization stages for guaranteeing the
compressed air conditions in the compressor (regulation is consequently
simplified) and also serves as a feeding point for the compressed air
recycling. Because two pressurization stages of the compressor are hereby
separated, there is a compressed air line 9a from the first
pressurisation stage to the boiler 11 and from the boiler 11 to the next
pressurization stage (line 9b). In the depicted embodiment, the second
return line 9 can be introduced between the first and second
pressurization stages of the booster 3. Further return lines in other
areas of the pressurization process in the pressure generator 2 can be
provided.

[0017] By controlling the pressure generator, the individual
pressurisation stages are depressurized or pressurized depending on the
quantity of returned compressed gas. In the case of an introduction
between two pressurization stages, the preceding stages are designed in
such a way that these can supply the maximum demand and there is a
(partial) depressurization only when compressed gas is returned.

[0018] Although not depicted, all supply points are provided with the
customary and required components, such as check valves, pressure
measurements, shut-off cocks or the like. The buffer tanks act as a
controlled section for the pressure hysteresis and can be dispensed with
in the event of appropriate control of the pressure generation.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a device according to the disclosure, again using a
stretch blow-molding machine 1 and a pressure generator 2, whereby the
pressure generator here contains a standard compressor 12. The standard
compressor 12 supplies compressed gas at the required pressure and
conducts it into the compressed gas consumer in the form of the
blow-molding machine 1 via a buffer tank 13 and a blow air line 14. The
first stage of the standard compressor 12 can consist of a screw
compressor, reciprocating compressor or turbocompressor. The remaining
stages for the remaining compressing can, for example, be reciprocating
compressors or turbocompressors.

[0020] The compressed air used for the respective working process in the
pressure consumer, i.e., the blow-molding machine 1, is collected
depending on the pressure (pressure stages) and conducted back into the
appropriate pressurization stages of the pressure generator 2 via a
plurality of return lines. In the depicted embodiment, a first return
line 15 and a second return line 16 are provided. The first return line
is used for returning compressed air at a low pressure, whereby this can
lie at approximately 1 bar when an atmospheric pressure from compressing
standard compressors is used. The first return line 15 discharges into a
buffer tank 17 that is connected to the pressure generator 2 before the
first compression stage.

[0021] The second return line 16 discharges in turn into the standard
compressor 12 via a buffer tank 18 and two lines 16a, 16b connected to
different pressurization stages (similarly to FIG. 1). Using the
compressed air lines 16a and 16b, the buffer tank 18 is integrated into
the compressor system 12 and hereby serves as a compressed air buffer for
the internal compressed air control/regulation. Compressed gas in the
pressure range between 10 and 13 bar can in turn be fed back via the
second return line 16.

[0022] Here again, the buffers act as a controlled section for the
pressure hysteresis and can be dispensed with in the event of appropriate
control of the pressure generation. All supply points in FIG. 2 are also
provided with check valves, pressure measurements, shut-off cocks, etc.

[0023] Both variants of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be operated in a similar manner.
For example, in both cases, the compressed air that is to be recycled can
be pumped into the respective tanks 10, 11 or 17, 18. If the recycling
volume is too low, the pressure in the buffer tank drops so that
additionally in the case of a feed before the pressure generator 2,
compressed air from the low pressure network is removed, or in the case
of a feed between the pressure stages of the pressure generator, the
previously switched stage is switched from "depressurized" to
"pressurized". This consequently results in a regulation by the
compressor system and the recycling volume can be used optimally.

[0024] In modification of the described and drawn embodiments, the
disclosure can be used with other pressure consumers and other pressure
generators. The disclosure can also be used if a consumer is supplied
with compressed air by a plurality of pressure generators or if a
pressure generator supplies a plurality of consumers. The type of
pressure generator is also non-critical.